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I am a newly diagnosed IC patient. It seems like everything in my life
is changing all at once and I am getting overwhelmed trying to figure
out what I can and cannot eat. Can you help?
Answer:
The first thing you need to know is that you aren't alone. Many people
get frustrated about diet, finding themselves in a negative cycle of
fixating on the foods they can't have. I know I was bad at
first myself, thinking that here I was, having to give up so much of my
life, and now I can't even have spaghetti or orange juice?
Dietary modification can be very effecting in helping to control
symptoms of IC, and it is actually something we have in our control. The
one thing that helped turn my head around was to realize that eventually
everyone "gets" something. Some people get arthritis, some get diabetes,
some have even worse diseases like cancer. IC is our "thing." In fact,
if you asked ten people on the street if they are supposed to be
watching their diet in some way, nine out of ten would say yes . . . and
the last one would most likely be lying!
The good news is that an individual's IC diet usually doesn't have to be
as strict as you may think. Most people with IC find that they can have
a substantial and healthy diet if they do a little detective work to
identify their personal trigger foods. That is the idea of the IC
elimination diet. Most people do not have to be on the most restrictive
diet forever. And, although others with IC are great counsel, your diet
is probably not going to look like anyone else's.
A concept that may be helpful to keep in mind is that eventually you
will feel normal again, or more accurately, you will find yourself
accepting a "new normal." You will learn coping skills that will help
you on a daily basis. You will be able to navigate your refrigerator and
restaurants without putting yourself in a flare. You will find exercises
that you can do, and fixate less on what you can't do.
So, if you are new, hang in there, ask questions, and most importantly,
be your own best health care advocate. Keep a diary or a calendar. Write
down what you eat, what is going on in your life, the medications you
are trying, and how you are feeling. If you can't figure it out, share
your diary with a trusted friend or your doctor. Sometimes we are too
close to a situation to see what may be hurting us.
The ultimate message here is that you CAN do it, you CAN get better, you
CAN begin to heal. It just takes some time and patience.
Related Links:
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